Well cleanout tool



Jan. 21, 1936. J. c, SMITH ET AL WELL CLEANOUT 'TOOL Filed May 18, 1934 Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES WELL CLEANOUT TOOL Application May 18, 1934, Serial No. 726,364

13 Claims.

The invention relates to well cleanout tools, and has for its object to provide a device of this kind adapted to be lowered into the well, and

provided with means whereby when it reaches chamber normally closed during the lowering operation by a closure held by tripping mechanism and opened by engagement with the bottom of the well to be pushed up into the chamber by hydrostatic pressure, for removal purposes.

A further object is to provide the tool with an upper and lower chamber the upper one of which is provided with a suction plunger and adapted drostatic action partially fails.

A further object is to so construct the suction plunger that it forms a set of jars for jarring the tool out ofthe dbris, should it become stuck.

A further object is to provide a cleanout tool for wells comprising an elongated body having two chambers therein, in one of which a hydrostatic plunger is slidably mounted and adapted to be released for upward movement when the device reaches the bottom ofthe well, and means for trapping the dbris in the hydrostatic chamber after the upward movement ofthe plunger. "A further object is to provide the lower end of the -lower chamber 'with removable and interchangeable ends to meet the various cleaning out conditions.

A further object is to provide the lower end of the hydrostatic plunger with an extension extending below the lower end of the cleanout de- 40 vice and adapted to engage the bottom vof the .well and latching means cooperating with the,

having heads extending into recesses in the.

lower chamber wall and held therein by an en.- largement carried by the downwardly extending -55 plunger member, `which has limited axial moveto complete the filling operating in case the hy ment in relation tothe plunger for moving the head from between the arm enlargements.

A further object is to provide a hinged closure within the chamber and adapted to close the lower end of the chamber when the plunger unit moves upwardly` after a dbris intaking opera tion.

A further object is to provide a `check valve and discharge port in the extreme upper end ofA the tool for allowing escape of air, which is at atmospheric pressure, until tripped under the force of .the hydrostatic p-ressure upwardly into the chamber on an intaking operation.

A vfurther object is to provide the upper chamber. with an extension member carried therein and having a suction plunger thereon and adapted for use under a vacuum lifting system for cleaning the lower end of the well, by a pumping operation.

A further object is to provide a cleanout tool to be operated hydrostatically'or by suction, or by a combinationof both.

A further object is to provide the flap valve with means whereby during the clearing and cleaning operation of the device, it may be opened outwardly, thereby obviating the necessity of removing the end of the device.

A further object is to provide a cleaning out bit having a chamber therein with an impact cutting edge having a transverse chamber therethrough in which is hingedly mounted a flap valve, the free end of which is supported on a removable member thereby allowing the valve to swing outwardly through the bit opening to an open position for discharging the contents of the chamber.

With the 'above and otherobjects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the wscope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the bottom of the cleanout tool, showing the same in latchedxposition for lowering into a Well.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the initial unlatching position.

Figure 3 isa vertical transverse sectional view through the suction chamber and an extension member, adapted to be attached to the uppervend of the hydrostatic chamber and used, when it ls desired. for pumping material into the chambers. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bit with a cutting edge, used for breaking up material,

where the pieces are large.

Figure is a vertical transverse sectional view through the bit shown in Figure 4 having a cutting edge where it is necessary to break up material at the bottom of the well.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another form of bottom to be used with or without the hydrostatic arrangement.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I designates a coupling, which coupling is provided with a port 2 extending therethrough, and to which coupling is connecteda cylindrical body 3 having an elongated dbris receiving chamber 4 therein, and

into which broken rock and other dbris in the bottom of the well is forced by hydrostatic pressure when the cleanout tool reaches the bottom of the well and engages the dbris.

Removably mounted on the lower end of the cylindrical body 3 is a chambered member 5, in which is slidably guided the enlarged portion 6 of the axially movable shaft 'I carried by the piston 8, which is in turn slidably mounted in the chamber 4. Shaft 'I extends through an aperture 9 in the bottom of the piston and terminates in a nut I8 having limited movement axially between the rubber bumper II within the chamber I Ia of the piston and the bottom of the chamber. The rubber bumpersI I are provided to take up the shock incident to the operation of the device, under terrific pressure.

It is also necessary to provide the bumpers II and limited movement ofthe shaft 1 for the unlatching operation. The latching means comprises downwardly extending links I2, which are pivotally connected at I3 to the lower end of the piston 8, and which links terminate at their lower end in enlargements I4, within the chamber I5 of the removable lower end 5 of the device. The enlargements I4 are received in recesses I6 in opposite sides of the chamber I5, and are normally held therein by the enlarged portion I 'I carried by the shaft, thereby positively holding the piston 8 against upward movement until the shaft 'I is forced upwardly by the engagement of the eye I8, carried by the lower end of the shaft, with the bottom of the well. It will be noted that the enlargement 6 is smaller than the chamber I5, thereby allowing free movement through the chamber. The eye I8 is used to receive a tool for pulling the piston to lower position for a resetting operation, and its use will be obvious when it is considered that the chamber 4 is ordinarily about thirty feet long.

When the eye I8 engages the bottomof the well, the shaft enlargement I1 is moved upwardly to a position above the link. enlargementsy I4, thereby allowing said link enlargements, which have bevelledengagement at I9 with the recess I6, to move upwardly with the piston 8 underv hydrostatic pressure, and as the piston 8 is working against atmospheric pressure in the chambers, it is obvious that a terric inrush will be created below the piston which will take the dbris in the bottom of the well. ,v

During the dbris intaking operation, when the piston 8 is forced upwardly under terrific hydrostatic pressure, the air within the chambers is held at atmospheric pressure by a check valve against which the hydrostatic pressure acts, through the apertures 2l in the tool joint connector 22. Valve l 20 is forced upwardly through ports 2.and 4I unseating check valve 28 and thence to the well through the aperture 2|. After the piston, to which the arms I2 are connected, reaches the upward position and the dbris is moved into the lower end of the chamber, said dbris is held trapped in the ychamber for removal purposes by a hinged valve 23, which is hingedly connected at 24 to the upper end.

of the removable lower end 5, hence when the cleanout tool is removed from the well the dbris will be removed therewith.` When the cleanout tool is cleaned, it is only necessary to remove the lower end 5 from the cleanout tool to remove the dbris from the chamber 4, then replace lower end 5 and insert a tool into hooked engagement with the eye I8 to reset and latch the piston 8 for any subsequent operations desired.

The lower end of the port 2 in the coupling I terminates in an enlarged chamber 25 which receives the nut 26 carried by the upper end of the piston 3 when the piston is in upper position. The nut holds a bumper plate 2'I on the piston and the rubber bumper 28 carried by the upper end of the piston in position. The rubber 28 is provided to take up the impact of the piston against the upper end vof the chamber 24 at 29, under the terric hydrostatic pressure.

The piston 8 is provided with invertedAcup shaped packings 30, against which the hydrostatic pressure from below the piston acts for maintaining the atmospheric pressure in the chamber 4. In a five thousand foot well, the hydrostatic pressure, per square inch would -be about 2,110 pounds, if the hole is full of water, and it will be seen that the atmospheric pressure within the chamber 4 will be maintained until the tripping operation, by the cup shaped packing members 30 and the check valve 20. The cylindrical body portion 3 of the cleanout tool, at a point below the packing cups 30, is provided withI an exhaust aperture 3l which allows exhaust -of air from the chamber 4 below the piston 8 when the device is lowered into the well and into the fluid therein, thereby preventing trapping of airbelow the piston, hence the forming of an air pocket is prevented. The upper end of the coupling I terminates in a male member 32 which is received in the usual manner in the lower end of the female coupling 33.

Where there is very little water in the welly consequently Yvery little hydrostatic pressure, f

theeleanout operation is obtained by a suction method.

Where it is necessary to use a suction, the extension' member 34 may be used, the upper threaded end of which is threaded onto an end piece, which withstands the upward jarring actio'n of the piston 38, however if the tool is working well hydrostatically, the piston can remain inactive and the suction portion then acts only as weight. The extension member 34 is provided with an elongated chamber 31, having a piston 38 slidably mounted therein and provided' with a piston rod 39, the upper end of which terminates in a tool /joint connector 22, adapted to be received by al drill string section so that when said section is axially reciprocated piston 38 will reciprocate therewith.

4'I'he piston 38 is provided with a passage `4I extending axially therethrough and through the piston rod 39 and terminating in transverse discharge apertures 2I. In preparing the device for f operation, extension memberl 34 is screwed on Y the upper end o f hydrostatic chamber at 32, the device cocked as shown in Figure l and run into the well. If suction s-desired an up and down movement is imparted to the piston rod 39, carrying the piston 38, which action causes the check valve 23 to close on the down strokes. On the up strokes of the piston 38 suction will be formed in chamber 31 as well as in the chamber 4, as the valve 26 will be seated and the hinged valve 23 unseated. This operation continues as long as is necessary to get a full load in the chambers 4 and 31. The dbris in the bottom of the well will be sucked upwardly into the chamber 4, 4and trapped therein by the hinged valve 23. It will be noted that the lower end of the chamber 31 will be in communication with the chamber 4 through port 41 in the lower end of the extension section 34, at all times. It will be seen that a positive suction lifting system is provided in connection with the cleanout tool, and that the suction chamber 31 is free of dbris.

In some cases it is necessary to agitate the dbris in order to break loose the material to be moved, and in such case the scow bottom shown in Figures 4 and 5 is connected to the lower end of the device shown in Figures l and 2. In this case the cylindrical body 3 having the ,chamber 4 therein is not provided with a piston 8 but terminates at its lower end in a transversely extending V-shaped cutting and agitating tool 5l, which is intermittently raised and lowered for the cutting operation. The tool 5I is provided with a transverse opening l52 therethrough and with a hinged valve 53, which is pivoted at 54, and has its free end resting on a removable screw 55. In this form as the tool is raised and lowered with the extension 34 connected thereto, the piston 38 will create a vacuum in the chambers 31 and 4, and will suck the dislodged and agitated material into the chamber 4 past the hinged valve 53. When the tool is removed, it will be noted that the same may be readily cleared by removing the screw 55 out of the path of the free end of the hinged valve 53, and this will allow the valve 53 to swing outwardly for the cleaning operation, which is a decided factor as it'obviates the removal of the end of the device.

From the above it will be seen that a cleanout.

. tool is provided for wells wherein the hydrostatic pressure may be utilized for forcing the dbris from the bottom of the well into a cleanout tool, and if desired a suction system may be used when the hydrostatic pressure is low, or a di'slodging tool where it is necessary to agitate the dbris before the suction operation.

Means is provided between the chambers to receive a valvesimilar to that o-ne which is .used in the joint connector 22 if desired. Thisaffords the means to pump a partial vacuum in the chambers before running the device into the well, where the hydrostatic pressure is small, and is only used with the hydrostatic unit.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A well cleanout tool comprising an elongated member having a dbris receiving chamber therein and adapted to receive and trap uid under pressure, the lower end of said chamber being open to the well, a piston slidably lmounted in said chamber, latching means for holding said piston in lowered position against uid under pressure entering the' lower end of the chamber and releasing means whereby said latching means will be released when the cleanout tool contacts the bottom of a well, whereby said piston may move upward under a hydrostatic pressure 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a closure valve for the lower end of the chamber below the piston and adapted -to close after the piston moves upwardly for trapping dbris in the chamber.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 including means for allowing escape of air from the chamber above the piston `as the piston moves upwardly.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 including packing-members carried by the piston for preventing passage of fluid pressure to the chamber and means for allowing escape of air to the well from the bottom ofthe chamber below the packing members.

5. The combination with a fluid pressure actuated cleanout tool comprising a piston slidably mounted in a casing chamber, said chamber being open at its lower end for-communication with a well, of means for latching said piston in the lower end of the casing chamber against fluid pressure, said means comprising a shaft carried by the piston and extending beyond the lower end of the casing where it will engage the bottom of a well ahead of the tool casing, arms pivotally connected to the piston and extending downwardly towards the lower end of the chamber Within the chamber, an annular channel in the inner periphery of the lower end of the chamber, headed members carried by said arms and disposed in said channel, an enlargement carried by the shaft anddisposed between the headed members and maintaining the same in the channel, a slidable connection between said shaft and piston allowing limited axialfreedom of movement of the shaft in relation to the piston, whereby the enlargement of the shaft upon initial movement of the shaft will move from between the headed members and release the arms, thereby allowing upward hydrostatic movement of the piston under fluid pressure from the well.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 including a yieldable bumper carried by the upper end of the piston..

7. A device as set forth in claim 5 comprising a chamber in the piston, a head carried by the shaft and yieldable bumper means Within the chamber of the piston and forming means for limiting and absorbing the shock of the initial upward movement of the shaft during the unlatching operation.

8. A device as set forth in claim 5 including an upwardly extending discharge passage carried by the cleanout tool and leading from the upper end of the chamber, and a check valve carried by said passage and forming means,

whereby air under atmospheric pressure may be held in the chambers and fluid pressure from the well. prevented from entering the chambers.

9. A device as set forth in claim 5 including a removable connector on the upper end of the tool and having a chamber therein, a check valve within said chamber and cooperating with a port leading to the chambers of the' tool and allowing exhaust from the tool chambers and a port in the connector and forming means whereby uid pressure within the well may enter 4the connector chamber and maintain the check valve closed until released by the greater fluid pressure forcing the piston upwardly.

10. The combination with a hydrostatic'ally operated well cleanout tool having a chamber into and extending below the lower end of the cleanout tool, of a removable lower end for said tool, said removable end carrying the latching means in combination with the piston and a hinged valve carried by -said removable end above the latching means within the end and forming means whereby the valve may be removed after the cleanout operation for removing dbris from the chamber of the tool. r

11. A cleanout tool for wells comprising an elongated member having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a port of communication between the upper chamber and the lower charnber, a reciprocating piston in the upper chamber and having an upwardly extending discharge port therethrough, a check valve in said discharge port and preventing downward ow between the discharge port and piston and forming means whereby a suction may be formed/ in the upper and lower chambers upon the upward movement of the piston and the upper chamber, a piston in the lower chamber, means for latching the piston in the lower end of the lower chamber and releasing the same, said reciprocating piston in the upper chamber forming means in combinay tion, unlatching means for said latching means tion with the check valve, whereby a suction may be formed in both chambers for a vacuum cleanout operation.

12. A device as set forth in claim 11 including an enlarged portion carried by the lower chamber whereby when the ,lower piston is in raised position the vacuum action from the chambers may bypass the lower piston for an intaking operation below the lower piston.

18. A vacuum operated cleanout tool for wells comprising an elongated member having upper and lower chambers, a port of communication between said chambers, a piston in the upper chamber, a piston in the lower chamber, said upper piston being. reciprocally mounted, check valve means whereby when the upper piston is reciprocated a vacuum will be formed in both chambers, means for latching the piston in the lower chamber against the action of the vacuum and means cooperating with the latching means and adapted to be actuated by well engagement at the bottom thereof for releasing the lower piston and allowing its upward movement under the influence of the vacuum in the chambers.

JAMES C. SMITH. JAMES S. TAYLOR. 

